Google Assistant API Launched Today

The Google Assistant is getting an API today with the launch of “Actions on Google,” a way for developers to build “conversation actions” that can be called up on the Assistant’s various interfaces. This stays true to the API being available in December as we talked about when covering the Google Home Cheatsheet. The “Actions on Google” API was announced during the Google I/O 2016 keynote and has since existed in some form as a private early access program. Today Google is throwing the doors open to developers, who can create Google Assistant commands using the chatbot developer tools API.AI and GupShup. Now Pixel owners and Allo users don’t get too excited just yet. Today’s API launch is only for Google Home and the latter 2 will come later. In the blog post Google says integration across these 3 iterations of Google assistant is coming which I can’t wait for as it’s something users expect these days.

Conversation Actions let you engage your users to deliver information, services, and assistance. According to Google the best part is the natural conversation no need to install an app or enable a skill and they’ve included 2 test examples. “Ok Google, talk to Number Genie ” or try “Ok Google, talk to Eliza’ for the classic 1960s AI exercise.

To help create a smooth, sstraightforward development experience, Goole has worked with a number of development partners, including conversational interaction development tools API.AI and Gupshup, analytics tools DashBot and VoiceLabs and consulting companies such as Assist, Notify.IO, Witlingo and Spoken Layer, they also have samples and a voice user interface(VUI for short) in addition to early access partners seen in the picture below rolling out integration over the coming weeks.

Last but not least Actions for Pixel and Allo + purchasing and booking support will be coming in due time so stay tuned for updates!